Apple Daycare Ltd (Lemsford)

Inspection of Apple Daycare Ltd (Lemsford) Lemsford Village Hall, Brocket Road, Lemsford, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL8 7TT

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is outstanding

Staff welcome children into this very inviting setting, and children engage quickly with the wealth of enticing activities. Children form extremely secure attachments to familiar adults, who are caring and highly responsive. Children show that they feel very safe and secure, demonstrating confidence as a result.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff treat children with the utmost respect by giving them a voice and encouraging them to make choices. The whole curriculum centres around children's curiosity and encouraging them to make their own choices about how they use resources. Staff encourage children to contribute their own ideas. For example, children show extremely high levels of engagement as they pour 'reindeer food' into different- sized containers that they have selected. Care routines are sensitive. Staff ask children to take part and explain why these routines are important. This respectful behaviour modelled by staff is mirrored in children's interactions.

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The provision is outstanding

Children delight in a range of wonderful learning experiences outside. They have daily access to the outdoor environment, where staff plan a range of superb learning opportunities. They also explore the environment and take regular walks to a local historical building. This helps children understand the natural environment, as staff talk to the children about what they can see and the changing seasons. For instance, children listen to their feet 'crunching' on the frost as they go for a walk across the green.

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need to do better?

n Staff have designed an extremely clear, well-thought-out curriculum, which covers all areas of learning and provides challenge for the children. They use this curriculum, with detailed knowledge of each child's interests and needs, to provide highly stimulating and engaging activities for the children. As a result, children show extremely high levels of motivation towards learning and make outstanding progress. n Staff provide daily, focused teaching sessions. These sessions focus on teaching children specific skills that are appropriate for their age. Children learn to listen appropriately, and staff skilfully differentiate tasks to ensure all children can access the excellent learning opportunities and are highly challenged in their learning. n Staff provide a rich variety of experiences to promote children's understanding of the world. Parents are invited to share their culture, and staff use all

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need to do better?

opportunities to celebrate diversity. For example, they are in the process of receiving recipes from parents to add to their menu. Staff also use key words from children's home language to help their transition from home. This helps children to feel extremely safe and secure.

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need to do better?

9 December 2022 n Children are encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle. The nursery provides a wide range of extra-curricular activities to keep children active and engage them in different aspects of learning. They provide dance classes, sensory classes, sports clubs and circus-skills sessions. Children delight as they join in with a music session, using rhymes, songs and props. As a result, children develop excellent speech and language skills. n Partnership with parents is extremely strong. Parents value the very close relationships their children have with staff and share that their children love attending nursery. They feel fully informed about their children's learning through daily verbal feedback and detailed explanations of learning opportunities through the nursery app. This detailed information encourages parents to support their child's learning at home. n Members of the management team are passionate about providing children with

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need to do better?

the highest quality of care and education. They recognise that high-quality education comes from highly qualified staff with a passion for caring for children. The managers dedicate time and resources to recruit and retain these staff. They provide excellent training opportunities for staff. As a result, staff feel extremely valued, happy and supported. n Staff have high ambitions for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff design and tailor challenging but achievable targets, using individual plans to ensure that children are well supported and make outstanding progress. For example, children use objects of reference to support their developing language skills and use visual flashcards to remind them of good behaviour choices. This detailed planning and support ensures the nursery is fully inclusive and helps children to learn to behave appropriately. Staff work closely with external professionals to ensure children

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a very detailed knowledge and understanding about all aspects of safeguarding. All staff have an excellent understanding of the procedures to follow if they have any concerns. Staff complete regular and robust risk assessments to ensure the learning environment, indoors and outdoors, is safe for children. Staff teach children how to help keep themselves safe. For example, children help mop up spilled water so they do not slip. Staff complete regular safeguarding training. This includes many wider safeguarding issues, such as such radicalisation and county lines.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2615319 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10263836 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 46 Number of children on roll 20 Name of registered person Apple Daycare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07876136458 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Apple Daycare Ltd (Lemsford) registered in 2020. The nursery employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications of level 3 or above. The nursery opens Monday to Thursday, from 7.30am to 6.30pm, and Friday, from 7.30am to 5.30pm, all year round. The nursery provides funding for early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector joined the manager on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with the staff, children and parents during the inspection. n The inspector held discussions with the managers. n The inspector reviewed a sample of documentation, including the suitability of staff and first-aid qualifications.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

9 December 2022 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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